Start-Up (2020)

An inexplicably controversial drama

Before I watched this drama, I knew nothing about it other than people’s comments on it. I read that it was badly written, that the ML was terrible, that this drama was a complete disappointment, and of course, that the second ML should have gotten the girl.

So imagine my surprise upon watching and finding a wonderful ML with flaws and virtues, and who felt like a real person. He was sensitive, insecure, kind, and he actually grew as the drama went along.

Imagine my surprise at finding a second ML who was also very real, with virtues and flaws, but certainly not the absolute saint that I’d been led to believe sacrificed everything for the sake of the FL. Perhaps I am immune to Kim Seon Ho’s charms because he likewise has a devoted fan base for his role in Hometown Cha Cha Cha for what I thought was a truly unlikable character. But I did like him here. He was funny, petty, harsh, selfish, and still a good person with a sense of right and wrong. He just wasn’t the angel that I believed based on all I read before I watched. He helped the FL, but often at the request of her grandma rather than because he was pining for the FL. And his actions weren’t some sort of great sacrifice.

As I was watching I read some of the comments for episodes when the show aired and I was just baffled. I felt like I was watching a different show altogether reading the absolute vitriol reserved for the ML. Nothing NDS did could ever be good enough, or viewed favorably. And really it all was due to the fact that he wasn’t HJP. That’s all it was. It’s comical to think that HJP exhibited so many qualities that are constantly criticized in other male leads, but they’re excused completely here. One has to laugh at the power of framing. HJP is essentially given the type of introduction you’ve seen a thousand times in dramas. So he manages to cement himself as the lead in many people’s minds. But he’s not. And it’s quite clear he’s not. I do not understand how anyone could ever be interested in him getting the girl when the girl never shows any interest in him whatsoever. Their interactions are devoid of any romance and there’s always this distance between them. It is very much the relationship between a mentor and student. He has many opportunities to declare his feelings, and he never takes them. Yes, it’s part of the characterization, and that’s part of the lesson. If you don’t make a move, you don’t get the girl. But I never believed he was in love with SDM. It made no sense that he should be all that shaken by her given their distant interactions. Did he like her? Sure. But love? Not by a long shot. And then perhaps after a time skip I can believe he was fully in love with her, but once again, HE DID NOTHING. He has three years and no rival, and he did nothing— nor did SDM’s feelings for him change. So I’m truly baffled at the rabid investment and anger over this pairing.

But that aside, this drama sadly did fumble. For the first 12 or so episodes I was completely invested in this drama. I thought both the romance and the main plot of them trying to succeed with their start-up were very entertaining. But by the end this drama started feeling like it was heavily padded. The episodes felt longer than they needed to be, and the number of episodes felt like too many. I found myself skipping through scenes of characters being sad that felt like they went on forever. The kdrama sin of multiple flashbacks kept being committed. And then, after all the angst, the resolution to the romance felt unfulfilling. I know a lot of people complain that the romance was unnecessary and they wanted more of the start-up storyline, but again, I feel like I was watching a different show. I grew tired of getting business and marketing lessons. I was frustrated watching the leads suffering due to stupid misunderstandings and not actually talking, and when they finally resolved things, it felt unsatisfying because so little time was devoted to it with the whole car plot.

Had this show not gotten dull towards the end, it would have easily been at least a 9, but the last few episodes really did dampen what started off so bright.

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START UP IS FOR INTELLECTUALS PEOPLE ONLY

I really loved how the storyline is created. Each character is draft amazingly especially the lead male character NAm doSan, nam joohyuk as an actor gives life and executed well his character. The rollercoster life struggle of every young people which honestly is left unnotice in our society is well address by the writer.

The love story between dalmi and dosan adds more color of the plot. Its like a picture of genuine loved not force or just same cliche drama, poor girl and rich guy story. It shows how beautiful to be inlove and how painful it is which really happens in real life. They struggle together,learn from it and the growth in their character really shown in the drama.

The drama shows more about business entities, where I find it more interesting. As a aspiring business woman. Dalmi's character really inspire me. It shows that being in business world dwells many things to be considered and the importance of making a decission should be carefully casted.

The only plot keeps me bothering is mr han jipyeong character. Honestly I dont like his character even I want too. His being pathetic each episode and clearly has inferiority complex. Even his character is being successfull, his appearance keeps draining every positive side of the story. Its like his giving negativity in each episodes and his character I would wish not to meet in real life.

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Avoid at all cost

I think I could have just end my review at that. There is actually nothing worth mentioning in this drama except Kim Seon Ho's acting. Only his character seems remotely interesting.
The name and summary of the drama is a click bait (Is that can even be used for a drama?) You expect it to delve into the business/tech world of IT but all we get is some pussy character more interested in getting the girl/boy rather than actually working towards their dream. I was actually hoping to see them crash and burn but this drama even deprived me from that pleasure and success just magically fell into their lap. What a load of crap!!!!!

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A fine first half

The first episode was the best episode so far and it was the reason why I wanted to continue until the end but it was a roller coaster after the pilot episode. Halfway into the series, it is heading to the climax episodes where there will be a lot of revelations and it is exciting how they would do it. I liked the character developments of some characters but not Do-San because his growth was not what I expected.

***in my OPINION***
I do think Do-San would end up together but they should make it really satisfying because Mr. Han is discovering a new phase in his life which is finding a love interest in Dal-Mi and if ever they end up together, I'd be down for it, actually, I prefer it that way. I want a new structure where the male lead doesn't get the female lead and this series would be a great example if ever.

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Its horrible

Don't recommend unless you have a hand fetish and like to cry! Like ji pyeong honestly deserves way better and like dodal deserves worse honestly so like unless you wanna cry don't watch this show! Also, they should have given ji pyeong a girl at the end instead of still being stuck with the toxic couple. I mean like I get what the writer tried to do they tried to cover it up by ji pyeong meeting youngsil but honestly that didn't work! Like why didn't they make nam do san better why did ji pyeong get more scenes plus have more chemistry then them two! Also in my mind in jae and ji pyeong ended up together like they should have done that where in jae has a crush on ji pyeong and later on ji pyeong realizes he feels the same! Ji pyeong is like sooooooooooo much better than nam do san.

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Too bad

The worst series I've seen so far - and I'm not picky!

It was the first time I started to hate some characters. Most of all the immature mean and incompetent character Nam Do San, played perfectly by Nam Joo Hyuk. I will try not to see another show with him.

I was disappointed in Seo Dal Mi for falling for him.

And disappointed in Han Ji Pyung for putting up with it all. But he didn't have a chance because the script hated him. Nevertheless Kim Seon Ho acted very sensitively.

The most supporting characters had to suffer so that Nam Do could get San Seo Dal Mi! Especially poor old grandmother.

Obviously, the screenwriter had no idea about people or startups. It's like a robot writing about love and apple pie!
Too bad.

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(I) Meant to be Heartbroken from Beginning

Directing and Music wise i could give perfect score, especially music department must get bonus for making such beautiful melodies but still confusing me till this day that there is no Dodal's theme song? I wonder whether it is intentional or not and it is such a shame that they didn't release some OST and theme song as original plan.

For script, i don't know how to start. It is such beautiful script to be honest. I remember keep hooking on story of how to build business and keep me thinking all day how to make business. I even interest to investing world but later on the spirit disappear because they didn't talk about business the way it was and too focus to love line. I wish they were explore more startup world that many people curious how it goes or making drama with many seasons so we can go through story slowly.

I have some opinions of statement that divided among people watch this drama. "Sailing without map is actually marvelous" in adventure context or maybe in relationship for some people. Not knowing or bother what come next is actually pleasing and i do love to do that sometimes. This drama writer is teaching us what will it be if we are using it for business and dream context. Because if we're interpreted it as it is, sailing without map is dangerous because we do not know what our goals and how to achieve that goals. Remember that SST was a great vessel to sail (genius programmers, wins CODA) but they do not have destination port and coordinate to go the destination (business plan)? It became stagnant, no progress. Two years become waste. But then they using this statement again for smart city plan, suddenly feels like it is okay to use it for business. If i put in other words like "Lets gamble in this project, the loss money is meant to be lost anyway". With the help of writer's magic Cheongmyeong Company/Sandbox grew bigger (unicorn?) in span of year :)

Also, when Seonho said Dosan and Dalmi are meant to be together. Me as jipyeong supporter and jidal clown, I didn't understand at first. Because what makes he thinks that? We knew how Jipyeong feels and what Jipyeong done to Dalmi to show her his love. It looks unfair to think that. So i rewatch first episode, from the beginning that writer shown us two teenagers that become each other's strength and friends in their hardest time and met again decade later. In 2016, both do not know each other well how do they do. (i had so much to say but better not to say since this review is getting too long)

Well it (kinda) understandable (sometimes) why Dalmi choose Dosan. Dosan and Jipyeong chance was 50-50. Both are such good kids and always be there for her but the difference is Dosan is always support her beside her and Jipyeong is support from behind. As far as i understand, Dalmi's love language is physical touch and quality time and (Jipyeong's) act of service is noticeable. She knew Jipyeong always be there for her. She knew what Jipyeong done to help her and team but she can't love him more than Dosan because (imo) the idea of Letter Nam Dosan and Present Nam Dosan already collide in her mind that they are the same person and its hard to think otherwise. It is such a shame that they built up the connection between Jipyeong and Dalmi through letter and coincidences like universe help them to be together. I wish from first time that Jipyeong is in relationship with Injae because seriously these two is gonna be great couple and Injae will have more screen time #JusticeforInjae.

What i do not understand till this moment, why the "Living Buddha" become violent only when he's ambitious? Like why writer make me disappointed with Dosan with his agenda "Talk to me instead, I'll answer it for you" when Dalmi is looking for Jipyeong?

Anyway please enjoy Start-Up without thoughts if you do not want to become like me, traumatized for any love life. Also thankful that since Seonho starring Start-Up my love for him is getting stronger.

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my honest opinion...

Had been a fan of PHR since Dream High with I Hear Your Voice being my all time favourite drama?? Honestly, i felt disappointed that this story fails to deliver what it had promised.

Story, Casts & Acting
As the title suggests, i was expecting more focus to be on the business aspect in the Start Up world but honestly everything seems oversimplified in this show. Arguments and ideologies doesnt seem to fit the real world mechanisms. Of course, this is just a drama and i am no expert in Start Up but i just did not feel the woah aspect of this whole start up picture they were trying to paint? It just felt like their success just happened because they were the leads /pure luck? Instead of developing the business aspect, they dragged out whole 16 episodes of the show on a stupid love triangle which made no sense to me.

FL was single all her life because of JP's letters (which imo Ep 1 was well executed when they painted JP's background story + meeting Halmeoni & eventually being DM's penpal) but this whole point was seemingly disregarded after she realised JP was her true first love instead of the male lead DS. I am fine with the closure (in ep 16 when JP, being best boy said that the 'DS' in the letters was just a fictional character and that he did not look for year in all of the 15 years). I accept this but was hoping they had not dragged this closure all the way til the end. I felt injustice for JP's character not because he did not end up with DM, but because he was so selfless all this time, always giving without expecting anything in return. And right til the end, he remains lonely. It almost seems liek the entire purpose of his existence is to save the stupid leads, and become their punching bags / sacrificial lamb. But thank you for giving Yeongsil (Yeo Jin Gu cameo) cameo at the last ep (at least we saw him smile at the end) and Halmeoni to JP. At the end of the day, i know JP is too perfect to even exist in the current world.

While the whole plot was messy, i would say the most of the cast acted well in the given script, even though the entire story felt unrelatable in the current era... For the main leads, i could not relate to the loveline, it somehow felt forced and unrelatable. Perhaps because there were just too little scenes that showed how their r/s had progressed enough to convince the viewers. To me, i just felt like DM would not have ended up with DS if she knew right from the start he wasn't the one that wrote those letters. It just felt like DS was riding on JP's letter to get the FL. I still can't figure out why they fell in love with each other (seriously they used hand size as a reason). For IJ, her screen time was so pathetic it almost felt like she was a cameo for this drama? Considering they took 8 months to film this drama...

While i would not recommend watching this show (unless you are a diehard fan of the leads), i am thankful for PHR for writing HJP and casting KSH. While it wasn't the first drama i watched KSH in, i must said he really executed his role perfectly, together with how his character was written. It is definitely this show that made KSH gained more recognition and attention. PHR better do him justice and cast him as a lead in her next drama (ok maybe not if it's gonna be poorly written like Start Up)> I am sorry, but the main leads' character of this drama are one of PHR's worst compared to the past dramas & characters she created. I am surprised since this production took almost 3 years to materialize.

Music
The OST? I love it! Only downside? Their covers do not match the theme songs? Not to be biased but they should have given JP some justice and at least used his cover for the songs that mirrors his feelings ?? Maybe it's just me but the lyrics of a few songs seems to be relating to JP's character.

Rewatch
Will not rewatch this show, because at the end of the day i can't relate to this show and the story it's trying to tell? But of course this is just my personal preference. I hope to see all the leads in a better production next time. Til then :D

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I haven’t seen a drama this thoroughly perfect in every aspect since a long time

Heartwarming, so funny, lovely, relatable, etc.
It was really great; I haven’t skipped, or fast forwarded anything. I learned about business. It inspired me to work hard.
I related to so many things in it on a very personal level.
I laughed hard. I enjoyed the cinematography a lot. It was thoroughly perfect. It got me, but not that deep, and that’s the only missing thing. Every character was good, events were exciting
I was touched by the pang of sadness and confession of truth.
Not to mention the realistic and beautiful romance.

And something very important about the drama is that I couldn’t predict it… the storytelling and drama both were new of their kind and refreshing.
It is the modernity I am looking for; the proper use of technology; adequate and not exaggerated.

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Disappointment but thank God for Kim Seon ho

Hmm where should I start

Okay I started watching this drama because of the actor who plays Nam Do San and in the start of the series it had so much potential. I was even okay with her being with Nam Do San, but as the story progressed it was evident that Nam Do San is a toxic male lead with a boring arc. The character Ji Pyeong had an amazing and very heart warming arc that truly made me feel for him. There was so much more chemistry between him and Dal Mi at least at the start of the series than Do San and her. They look like literal siblings with zero chemistry and relationship development. Do san’s characters is very immature and I mean high school immature and very short tempered and ungrateful. Dal Mi’s character started out with so much potential but ended up being the cliche drama character that is love blind. Ji pyeong’s character was written so beautifully and maybe a little too perfect. I loved the grandma. In Jae’s character had a lot of potential but they didn’t spend enough time on her because they were so focused on the stupid love triangle. Love yong-sil! Love the production, set, and cast. Hate most of the plot of how the letters were seen as useless all of the sudden and the little focus on what starting a business is actually like. Overall lazy storyline, nothing new or fresh. Would never watch it again, maybe just Ji pyeong moments but that’s it.

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I just wanted to give my credit to second lead character only for this drama. Jipyeong and grandma also dalmi's sister and her dad bcoz their characters have strong impact to this drama except for the main lead characters. This drama story totally messed up and the main character also for me give bad influence to the young generation. There are some attitudes from main lead character that not really good such as easy to mad or bad tamper sometimes cannot control his emotion very well, easy to make big decision especially for the business purpose without discuss with the expert one, start to fight with other peole although he actually wrong for the first place, always lies, and sometime cheating and although he makes mistake but he did not say sorry especially to Jipyeong. With every bad thing that he had done but he always looks gud to the other people especially female lead. And this is totally wrong at all in a real life he not matured at all and his character not gud as a role model for the audience especially to the young generation.

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